STRUGGLERS WIN FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON

Division 1 strugglers Natland C won their first match of the season after beating fellow relegation contenders Dallam A 7-3.
Natland raced into a formidable 4-1 lead after Andrea Jorkisch beat James Parkinson and Tom Carling early on, adding to Mick and Pete Taylor’s successes against Carling and James Parkinson. Dallam got off the mark thanks to Tom Jackson’s four set victory against Pete Taylor. Natland continued the good work moving into the second period, when Pete Taylor beat Carling 13-11 in a drama filled fifth set, while Jorkisch eased out Jackson in four sets. Despite Jackson’s win against Mick Taylor, Natland tasted victory in the doubles to take the tie 7-3. The defeat leaves Dallam rooted to the foot of the table, while Natland lie second from bottom.
Burton A are teetering just above the relegation zone after an 8-2 defeat at the hands of defending champions Ibis. Chris Knowles got Burton off to a dream start thanks to his victories against Trevor Nicholson and Pete Rushton 11-4 and 11-6 both in fifth set classics. Ibis started to find form later in the tie when Steve Dixon eased through his three matches, winning them three straight and Nicholson and Rushton beat Phil Goymer and Martin Wakelin to set up the 8-2 win.
In Division 2, Crook B head the table by a margin of seven points from Dallam D. Crook’s latest victory came in a 9-1 demolition of Burton D. George Pickering scored Burton’s solitary triumph of the night with an 11-3 win against John Wood. Burton lost out in three other matches that went the full distance and were unfortunate not to record more points on the score sheet.
Second placed Dallam D won only their second match of the season 6-4 against Natland D. Matthew and James Neal won two games apiece, while Tom Parkinson chipped in with a breath-taking victory in the fifth set against Rinaldo Colombi. Richard San Jose scooped the man of the match award after his three victories. The defeat leaves Natland one place above the relegation zone.